Second only to the flagship Signature Preamplifier, the Renaissance Mk III has all of the performance and features needed in a top-class music system, including balanced inputs and output, home theater input, hand-wired Class A triode circuitry, remote control, external power supply, and optional MM/MC phono stage with variable loading. The dynamics, detail, and speed of this preamplifier bring music back to life most convincingly.

Electrical Design
The VAC Renaissance Mk III Preamplifier is a development of the preamplifier section from the highly regarded VAC Phi Beta Integrated amplifier and provides balanced and single-ended input and output capability. It is completely hand wired, and all switching is accomplished via high purity silver contact mechanical switches. The six active circuit elements are twin triode vacuum tubes, biased for Class A1 operation.

VAC’s Cinema Bypass Mode
The line stage also offers a fully buffered tape loop and, which allows your high-end stereo system to integrate seamlessly with home theater. The cinema bypass input is a fixed gain input that allows your source component to control volume, and passes this signal through to the stereo power amplifiers without further processing.

Remote
The lacquered aluminum volume/mute remote control is standard. In the mute state, the VAC logo changes from blue to red. Uniquely, our remote system is implemented with electromechanical switches and controls. This approach is considerably more costly than the usual digital interfaces, but has several major advantages. First, no VCAs, relays, or transistor switches (switched ladder networks) are used in controlling volume. This is mandatory for sonic purity. Second, VAC’s careful implementation avoids the use of microprocessors, which generate significant noise signals that, while sometimes not audible directly, can do damage to the sound.

Construction
The standard fascia finish is black lacquer with gold metallic flake over a VAC-machined 10 mm aluminum plate. The faceted and domed countersunk aluminum knobs are also machined at VAC and finished in 10 micron gold. Silver with chrome is optional at added cost.

Gain

22 dB

Inputs

3 sets RCA line input

2 sets balanced/RCA selectable inputs

1 set RCA tape monitor input

1 set RCA cinema bypass input

Optional MM phono and MC (or additional line input if phono is not fitted)

“... the VAC Renaissance Mk.3 boasts the most impressive combination of serious sound, first-class build, great looks, compatibility with a range of amps, and overall flexibility in its numerous features of any model I’ve yet had in my system. It won’t be leaving any time soon.” - Garret Hongo, UltraAudio, September, 2010